Most Anticipated Albums of 2018

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With 2017 behind us, it’s time to start anew and what better way to do that than by looking forward at some of the great music 2018 will offer us. While not all of these have been officially announced yet, and I’m sure there will be some surprise releases, these are some of the albums I am most looking forward to that should be released this upcoming year:

1. Brian Fallon – Sleepwalkers (Feb 9)

The new solo album from one of my favorite New Jersey songwriters (and there are a lot of them), Fallon’s latest opus is said to be more upbeat and Clash-inspired. First single “Forget Me Not” has grown on me, and second release “If Your Prayers Don’t Get to Heaven” has already ingrained itself in my psyche. Fallon is touring this Spring, hitting up the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles on Friday, April 6th.

Rapper, singer, poet, composer, writer…there is very little the extremely talented Dessa can’t do. She spent 2017 working with Lin Manuel-Miranda on his charity single and released the beautiful “Good Grief” and the hypnotic “Fire Drills”. If these are good representatives of the new album, then Chime will be one of the best of 2018.

The true modern guitar hero of the oughts, any album White does is going to have some badass licks, some bluesy freakouts, and the touch of eccentricity that separates him from all the other shredders today. Any release this rock star works on is worth a listen.

The best of the 90’s pop rock bands have mentioned in articles that they’ve been working on new music, so chances are we’ll get their first new album since 2010’s No Chocolate Cake. Very much hoping this is true, because there are few other artists who can craft radio gems as well as these guys do.

5. David Byrne – American Utopia (Mar 9)

The lead Talking Head will be coming out with a new solo album this spring, to be followed by a tour. I’m hoping he hits Los Angeles, because I would love to catch what should be an artistically adventurous show.

6. Arctic Monkeys – Unknown

Rough and ragged rock n’ roll with an R&B soul, the Monkeys have proven again and again that they deserved all the hype their first album got them so many moons ago. Their last album finally got them so stateside success as well, and lord knows the American airwaves need more guitars right now.

7. Bruce Springsteen – Unknown

Following his run of shows on Broadway, the Boss supposedly has a new solo album due out this year. While I love me some E-Street Band, Springsteen is able to let his folkier side shine on his solo albums, and I’m sure whatever he writes will feel relevant in these crazy times.

8. Gorillaz/The Good, The Bad & The Queen – UnknownDamon Albarn won’t stop. Though he just released an album from Gorillaz last year, he already has another one in the can. One never knows what direction those animated boys will go in, but even more exciting is the upcoming second album from his OTHER side project, The Good, The Bad & The Queen. Flanked by The Clash‘s Mick Jones and Paul Simonon, I wait in anticipation to hear what it sounds like.

9. Lucero – Unknown

My favorite Memphis boys played a number of new songs at their recent New Years Ever show (“Bottom of the Sea” got me very stoked), and Ben Nichols said the album would be out next year. I’ll be waiting impatiently until then.

10. The Go! Team – Semicircle (Jan 19)

One of the best indie pop groups around. “Huddle Formation” still gets me dancing, so glad to see they are still making tunes.